As we move closer to City Rail Link opening, we’ve started putting our teams through their paces with “proxy” passengers carrying out large-scale emergency evacuation tests at Waitematā, Te Waihorotiu, Karanga‑a‑Hape and Maungawhau stations.
Small week-day tests and larger Saturday tests are under way in the stations and tunnels to ensure safety and preparedness before opening. Starting in late April through to early June, around 15 live emergency exercises and evacuation drills are being carried out by simulating fires, tunnel evacuations, and other critical scenarios in collaboration with Link Alliance City Rail Link Ltd, KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, Fire and Emergency NZ, NZ Police and Hato Hone St John.
The tests vary in size from just a few volunteers right up to four large tests with around-400 volunteer passengers, some playing ‘acting roles’ – all recruited from organisations that have been involved with CRL (sorry, members of the public cannot take part in these tests).
The first large test was held last Saturday and Director CRL Operations Louise Pengelly says: “It was fantastic to see the energy, professionalism, and teamwork on display right across the network”.
“A huge thank you to the wider test team and to everyone who gave up their Saturday to help make the day a success. These milestones only happen because of the enormous effort behind the scenes from so many people across AOR, all working together toward the same goal.”
CEO Martin Kearney FCIRO FCILT agrees and says: “I’m proud of the commitment and enthusiasm of everyone at AOR who continues to bring their best to our business-as-usual operations while this critical CRL work is being carried out.
“Not only are we focussed on running Auckland’s metro rail operation, but we are also working hard with our rail partners to open CRL to the public in the second half of 2026.”
.
